The Dangers of Potholes and Uneven Manhole Covers for Car Rims

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Poor road conditions remain a challenge for daily car users, especially in urban areas with heavy traffic. Potholes, uneven patches, and uneven manhole covers are often unavoidable and frequently driven over. Many drivers are usually more concerned about the suspension and chassis components when driving on uneven road surfaces. Potholes, uneven asphalt joints, and manhole covers that are either higher or lower than the road surface are often underestimated. Drivers often continue driving without significantly reducing speed, especially when traffic is heavy and it is difficult to manoeuvre. Diwan, the owner of the Eurovolution workshop in East Jakarta, says that strong impacts from uneven road surfaces can immediately put stress on the rim structure. This is especially true if the car is travelling with less than ideal tyre pressure. “If the car frequently hits potholes or manhole covers at a fairly high speed, the rim can become dented or even develop fine cracks. Sometimes it is not immediately visible,” Diwan told Kompas.com on Wednesday (25/2/2026). According to him, sharp vertical impacts cause the load to be transferred not only to the tyres and suspension but also to the rim. If this happens repeatedly, the risk of cracks increases, especially on alloy rims, which are more rigid than steel rims. The symptoms can include steering wheel vibrations at certain speeds or frequent reductions in tyre pressure. In some cases, small leaks occur due to deformation on the inside of the rim. Diwan advises drivers to be more vigilant when driving on damaged roads, including paying attention to the presence of drainage covers that are often not level with the asphalt surface.